After Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst said AFB Construction Management should lose its contract with local schools because of permit problems, the owner of the firm vehemently denied that his company had done anything wrong.

Reached by phone Saturday afternoon, CEO Al Barbarotta said he hadn't heard from Herbst or any other Trumbull officials about a report released last week saying there are no records of permits or inspections for 11 major school construction projects over the last decade.

The report, given to Herbst by the town's building official and fire marshal, also said certificates of occupancy weren't issued after projects were completed in six other instances. But Barbarotta said the report was part of a personal vendetta Herbst has against him.

"He's willing to do or say anything to make us look bad," he said.

Barbarotta said he was working as a general contractor and that it is the responsibility of other contracting firms to get the permits and certificates. He said he plans to review all of the contracts involved with projects mentioned in the in the report.

Herbst said last week the lack of permits is "what happens when you have a vendor supervising unionized employees in multiple locations." And he said it should be the basis for AFB's contract not to be renewed.

Barbarotta said he has worked with Trumbull officials since 1986 and town officials respected his work. He said he had no problems until he began clashing with Herbst, whom he is suing for defamation. "Our town is going to end up paying a lot of money for the mistakes this guy has made," he said.

On Saturday, Herbst said Barbarotta is the "point person" in charge of overseeing several school district contracts. He also said the reason for Trumbull's probe was that a Hearst Connecticut Media investigation revealed problems with school construction contracts in Stamford.

Herbst said the building inspector, who helped produce the report, was "apolitical," and was appointed by his predecessor. He said it was "disingenuous" for Barbarotta to blame other contractors for the problems with permitting and certificates; Herbst acknowledged Barbarotta is suing him.

"Mr. Barbarotta is very good at trying to play the victim," he said. "He is a contractor. He has contractual obligations to Trumbull and other municipalities. He needs to answer for his contractual responsibilities and stop trying to pass the buck to other contractors."